"Wait!"
Three people appeared at the entrance. They were the grandfather and his two companions Gu Chen had run into on the road.
The gray-haired elder strode into the courtyard and said coldly, "This young friend is a friend of mine. All of you, leave at once!"
"Elder Hua!" The security captain's expression tightened. He clearly recognized the elder, and hesitation showed on his face.
"Didn't you hear him?" Gu Chen said coldly. "Make way!"
"Yes!" The security captain waved his hand helplessly and left with his men, their tails between their legs.
The elder reined in his aura and walked toward Gu Chen, all smiles. "Young friend, I didn't expect you to come to the appraisal as well. I have a few questions I'd like to ask you, if you would..."
"No time." Gu Chen raised an eyebrow and cut him off. "Sir, if there's something you want to discuss, let's talk later. I have very important business to attend to right now."
Before he had even finished speaking, Gu Chen strode straight toward the main hall.
"Grandpa, he's gone too far!" The girl stamped her foot angrily. Seeing the elder standing there in a daze, she complained, "You got him out of trouble, and he didn't even say thank you. He even said he didn't have time. Who does he think he is?"
It was the first time anyone had treated the elder this way, but he merely chuckled and showed no anger. "People with talent and ability are mostly eccentric. Young people are full of fire and vigor. It's normal."
Wang Fu chimed in, "Old Master, the Young Miss is right. That kid was probably talking nonsense. The calligraphy and painting were authenticated by many people, so they couldn't possibly be fakes. Besides, he didn't even have an invitation. We have a flight to catch tomorrow morning, so why did we bother coming all the way back?"
"We're already here. Let's follow him in and take a look," the elder said calmly, then stepped into the main hall.
Inside the Treasure Gathering Studio's main hall, the treasure appraisal was in full swing.
With the appraisal over, the raw stone auction everyone had been looking forward to was about to begin.
Gu Chen's father, Gu Beichi, sat in a seat below, shoulder to shoulder with a man in his thirties.
Gu Beichi wore a black suit and sat with his arms folded, his gaze fixed on the stage. He carried himself with extraordinary bearing. Born into the Gu Family of Shangjing, he still had an outstanding air about him, even if he had fallen on somewhat hard times.
The man in his thirties beside him was Xu Zhongwen of the China Resources Group. He had a thin mustache and wore a gray suit over a floral shirt. One look was enough to tell he wasn't an upstanding businessman.
"Boss Gu, this openwork dragon-shaped pendant is a treasure from the Warring States period. If you like it, I'll bid on it and give it to you!" Xu Zhongwen said ingratiatingly.
Gu Beichi had built his fortune from nothing in Zhou City and had to deal with people from all walks of life. His logistics company also depended on Xu Zhongwen's support, so the two were close. If they had still been in Shangjing, Gu Beichi would never have given someone like him the time of day.
"How could I accept that?" Gu Beichi declined. "Besides, given the state of my family's business now, I have no use for this jade pendant."
"Boss Gu, you're a dragon and phoenix among men. Fine jade belongs with a hero!" Xu Zhongwen said with a stern face. "The dragon symbolizes good fortune and a bright future. I'll buy it for you as a token of my sincerity!"
Before Gu Beichi could refuse, Xu Zhongwen raised his hand to bid.
After three strikes of the hammer, Xu Zhongwen bought the jade pendant for three million.
Most of the bidders were businessmen, and three million was no small sum to spend on a jade pendant. Xu Zhongwen was somewhat well-known in Zhou City, and everyone offered their congratulations.
Gu Beichi hesitated for a moment, but with all eyes on them, he could hardly make Xu Zhongwen lose face. So he accepted the pendant.
Once, as a young master of the Gu Family, anything he wanted had been within easy reach. But after he was expelled from the family, he had learned how fickle people could be and how hard money was to earn.
Xu Zhongwen might have been a small-time boss, but he had Zhou City's Black Wind Hall backing him. The logistics company needed to keep the underground forces appeased, and now that he had received another favor from Xu Zhongwen, Gu Beichi said, "If anything catches your eye later, let me know."
"You're too courteous, Boss Gu." Xu Zhongwen draped an arm around his shoulders familiarly. "We're friends. This little bit of money is just for a lucky start. There's no need for such courtesy."
"No." Gu Beichi shook his head. "One thing is one thing, another is another. If you see something you like, just say the word, Boss Xu."
Xu Zhongwen feigned hesitation. "Since you insist, Boss Gu, I won't stand on ceremony. But you know my situation. There really isn't much I need."
The raw stone auction began, and several stones were displayed onstage. A few were quickly bought for several million each. They were cut open on the spot, and all revealed green.
"This batch looks promising," Xu Zhongwen said with a smile.
A thought stirred in Gu Beichi's mind. "I heard Boss Zhang recently opened a jewelry store. How about I buy a raw stone to return the favor?"
"Raw stone number 016 has been examined by an expert. It's bound to yield something good!" Xu Zhongwen's assistant, one of his underlings, spoke up first. "Brother Wen is definitely going to bid on it!"
"Oh?" Gu Beichi's eyes lit up. I've long heard that Xu Zhongwen has some connections with the owner of the Treasure Gathering Studio. If he can get information this important, the rumors must be true.
"Raw stone number 016, is it? I'll bid on it for you later, Boss Xu."
Xu Zhongwen feigned hesitation. "How could I accept that?"
"If you consider me a friend, Boss Xu, say no more!" Gu Beichi said decisively. "It's settled."
Xu Zhongwen shook his head for show. "Very well, then. Sorry for the trouble, Boss Gu."